Strainer-cleaner.



To all whom it may concern:

omvna 0. SMITH, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

STBAINER-CLEANEB.

Specification of Letters ?atent.

Application filed April 9, 1910. Serial No- 554,447.

Be-it known that I, OLIVER C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of \Vashington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Strainer- Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for water pumps, and has for an object to provide an improved strainer or foraminous member at the check end valve of the pump, means being operable by the pump. to operate circumferentially of the strainer to clean its exterior surface and to prevent the accumulation thereto of any foreign matter that would tend to clog the openings and prevent a perfect operation of the pump.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts inthe several views :--Figure 1 is a side elevation of my Fig. 2 is a vertical secimproved device.

3 is a detail end Fig. 4 is a detail section showing the shaft bearing.

My improved attachment consists of a strainer or hollow member 1 which is formed with a foraminous wall 2. This member is provided with a head 3 in which is formed a central bearing 4 for a shaft 5. The opposite end of the member is formed to provide an annular flan e 6 which is adapted to be secured to the. c eck valve end of the water pump. The member has mounted therein a bearing bracket 7 whose aperture 8 is located in line with the aperture 4 and thehead 3. This construction forms a perfect bearing in which the shaft 5 is free to rotate.

At the inner end the shaft is provided with any suitable well known form of propeller 9 which is provided with a plurality of radial blades 10 which may be of any suitable well known design. The outer end of the shaft is formed to provide a fork 11 between which the arm 12 of a combined scraper and paddle is mounted. This movpaddle 13,- and at its other end with a scraping blade 14. The blade and paddle are mounted to straddle the member 1 and they are adapted to rotate therearound and. to be engaged with the exterior surface of the member as will be understood.

In operation of the device, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that when the pump to which my improvement is attached is operated, water will be drawn through the perforations or passages formed in the member 1 and then into the pump by way of the check valve. The operation of the pump will be suflicient to revolve the propeller 9 which, incident to its connection with the shaft 5, Will rotate it to impart the desired rotary movement to the movable member or arm 12. When the propeller is in motion the blade 14 and the paddle 13 will be revolved about the member 1 to remove all foreign matter from the member and prevent it from clogging the. openings or passages therein. In water pumps it is well known that a free flow of water cannot be had at all times for the reason that the suction of the pump causes such matter as sawdust, chips or rocks to be sucked into the openings or passages in the strainer. This accumulation of matter clogs the openings and renders the pump inoperative.

A brace bar as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings encircles the member 1 and it may be connected in any suitable manner with the scraper 13 and the blade 14 to hold them against any lateral strain.

I claim I In a strainer cleaner, a foraminous strainer having a head at one end, a brace member located in said foraminous member, a propeller shaft revolubly mounted in said head and brace member and extended at one end beyond said brace member and having removably fitted thereto a propeller, the oppo- Patented July 23, 1912.

able member is formed at one end with a I site end of the said shaft being extended I 2. noaams allel with respect to said head and having cleaning elements to hold the same against an intermediate portion fitted in the forked lateral strain. 10 end of the shaft, scraping and cleaning ele-. In testimon whereof -I aflix my slgnature ments supported by the said arm at the ends in presence 0 two witnesses.

thereof and movable 0n the exterior surface OLIVER 0- SMITH.

of the. foraminous member on rotation of Witnesses:

said shaft, and a brace arm encircling said L. G. LINKLETTER,

strainer and connected to said scraping and WALTER SHAVE;

Copies of this potent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

" Washington, D. 0. 

